Firefighting system

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosed embodiments relate to an aerial firefighting system for a helicopter, the firefighting system including: an external reservoir for storing water, wherein the reservoir includes a water outlet; a supporting frame coupled to an outer surface of the reservoir; and a moveable robotic nozzle fluidly connected to the water outlet and mounted on the supporting frame or attached to a hose reel for distributing water on a fire; wherein the moveable nozzle is operable by a user from within the helicopter to control the direction that the water is distributed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An aerial firefighting system for a helicopter, the firefighting system comprising:
 an external reservoir for storing water, wherein the external reservoir comprises a support frame and a water outlet, the support frame further comprising a hose reel connected to the water outlet and supporting a flexible hose, wherein the hose reel is configured for winding and unwinding the flexible hose between a stowed position and a deployed position and a horizontal rotational axis of the hose reel is moveable relative to the external reservoir when the flexible hose is being wound, the supporting frame being coupled to a lower edge and an upper edge of the external reservoir without protruding below it, through flanges with curved grooves to allow movement of the horizontal rotational axis of the hose reel when the flexible hose is being wound; and 
 a nozzle fluidly connected to the flexible hose; 
 wherein the nozzle is suspended by the flexible hose in fluid communication with the water outlet and the nozzle such that water being expelled from the nozzle is under hydrostatic pressure from water within the external reservoir; and 
 wherein the nozzle is moveable relative to the flexible hose about intersecting vertical and horizontal axes to direct a flow of water from the nozzle to a target site. 
 
     
     
       2. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is mounted within a stabiliser housing. 
     
     
       3. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the stabiliser housing comprises at least one fin. 
     
     
       4. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hose is retractable. 
     
     
       5. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the external reservoir comprises a flexible membrane or a fuselage tank. 
     
     
       6. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 5 , comprising an alignment system for controlling the flexible hose during spooling. 
     
     
       7. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the alignment system comprises a guide tube disposed around the flexible hose and wherein the guide tube is moveably mounted on a guide frame. 
     
     
       8. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the guide frame is pivotably mounted to the supporting frame. 
     
     
       9. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the guide tube comprises a location formation configured to engage a corresponding formation on the housing to inhibit rotational movement of the housing when in the stored position. 
     
     
       10. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the location formation comprises a pair of vanes positioned within the guide tube and wherein the corresponding formation on the housing comprises a pair of tabs configured to follow a guide path defined between the pair of vanes. 
     
     
       11. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is operable from within the helicopter. 
     
     
       12. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least one flow control valve for controlling the flowrate of water from the nozzle. 
     
     
       13. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one flow control valve is positioned at a distal end of the flexible hose. 
     
     
       14. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one flow control valve is positioned at a proximal end of the flexible hose. 
     
     
       15. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 12 , comprising at least one flow control valve at each end of the flexible hose. 
     
     
       16. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is operable remotely to vary a distribution pattern of the flow of water. 
     
     
       17. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the firefighting system comprises a camera interlocked with the nozzle such that the camera is directed in substantially the same direction as the nozzle, the camera being configured to view the flow of water from the nozzle and display an image of the fire on a display within the helicopter. 
     
     
       18. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein a target direction of the nozzle is displayed on the display. 
     
     
       19. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the external reservoir is a membrane bucket suspended beneath the helicopter. 
     
     
       20. An aerial firefighting system for a helicopter, the firefighting system comprising:
 an external reservoir for storing water, wherein the external reservoir comprises a flexible membrane or a fuselage tank with a support frame and a water outlet, the support frame further comprising a hose reel connected to the water outlet and supporting a flexible hose, wherein the hose reel is configured for winding and unwinding the flexible hose between a stowed position and a deployed position; 
 an alignment system for controlling the flexible hose during spooling, the alignment system comprising a guide tube disposed around the flexible hose and wherein the guide tube is moveably mounted on a guide frame; and 
 a nozzle fluidly connected to the flexible hose; 
 wherein the nozzle is suspended by the flexible hose in fluid communication with the water outlet and the nozzle such that water being expelled from the nozzle is under hydrostatic pressure from water within the external reservoir; and 
 wherein the nozzle is moveable relative to the flexible hose about intersecting vertical and horizontal axes to direct a flow of water from the nozzle to a target site. 
 
     
     
       21. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a horizontal rotational axis of the hose reel is moveable relative to the external reservoir when the flexible hose is being wound. 
     
     
       22. The aerial firefighting system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the supporting frame is coupled to a lower edge and an upper edge of the external reservoir without protruding below it, through flanges with curved grooves to allow movement of the horizontal rotational axis of the hose reel when the flexible hose is being wound.